River Heights council agrees to participate in regional indoor recreation survey

Chad Wright, parks and recreation representative for Nibley City, urged the River Heights City Council to join a multi-community survey studying indoor recreation demand and financing in the south end of Cache Valley.

Wright said Nibley and nearby cities have seen growing participation in recreation programs and that an indoor facility could meet winter demand and replace capacity lost when the Logan Recreation Center reduces public access in mid‑2025. “We put a little box in a concept plan called, indoor recreation,” Wright said, adding that community surveys in Nibley showed roughly 80% support for indoor recreation and a surprising willingness among respondents to pay a monthly property‑tax increase to build a facility.

The survey Wright described is being funded and coordinated by Nibley and its consultant VCBO. Wright said participating cities would receive data disaggregated by jurisdiction. “We’re covering the cost of this survey in this study, and we’d love to invite you to participate at any level,” he told the council.

Council members asked about likely costs, governance and how the survey would be distributed. Wright said the consultant will analyze operational and capital scenarios and noted the survey includes a slider question to estimate how much households would be willing to pay; Nibley’s prior outreach produced a median willingness figure of $25 per month in that city’s responses. “That was a number that really surprised us in Nibley,” Wright said.

Chris Milbank, River Heights council member and parks liaison, said he would coordinate distribution locally and work with staff on outreach channels including the city newsletter, utility billing inserts, social media and text messages. City staff confirmed they can add the survey link to the city’s newsletter and utility bill mailings if timing allows.

After discussion the council moved and seconded a motion for River Heights to participate in the survey. The council recorded the motion as adopted by voice vote.

The council also agreed to have Councilmember Chris Milbank and staff member Sheila handle local coordination with Nibley’s team. Wright said the study window would run about three weeks and Nibley hoped to close the countywide/municipal outreach by early March.

If River Heights participates, officials will receive city‑specific results and can decide later whether to pursue site selection, form a multi‑jurisdictional service district or explore bonding options.

The council did not commit to any financing or facility design at this meeting; the action was limited to participation in the survey.